Reggae rejects cocaine – on record- Drug use among performers surfaces in lyrics

No matter the official classifications, in reggae and dancehall music marijuana is not a drug, and there are oodles of songs about the joys of using and supposed benefits derived from the plant. There is even an 18-track album from Greensleeves Records entitled Hi-Grade Ganja Anthems, which includes Wayne Smith’s Under Me Sleng Teng, It Haffi Bun by Josey Wales, and 100 Dollar Bag by Beenie Man.

Jamaican rides soca wave for T&T Carnival

In February, 2009 he came to Trinidad to experience the season of soca and mas. Little did he know that he’d meet a rising soca star who would recognise his budding talent and a collaboration would emerge. D’ Voice- real name: Dwayne Stewart, hails from dancehall island, Jamaica. At 22, he has a keen understanding of what it means to be an entertainer. He knows the importance of being business-minded and says he strives to be better informed in all aspects of the entertainment industry. In recent weeks, he’s been travelling the highways and byways of Trinidad.

Kingston in Kingston

It will be the first time that international reggae-influenced recording artiste Sean Kingston will be performing in Kingston, and by all indications he intends to make his premier in Jamaica’s capital one to remember.

With a fresh album released in September, Tomorrow, and a slew of rhythmic and infectious hit singles like Suicidal, Take You There, and Beautiful Girls, patrons can look forward to a full-fledged feature performance from Kingston – who was born Kisean Jamal Anderson.

For reggae icon Buju Banton, a cloudy future

Internationally known reggae star. Gay basher. Grammy nominee. And now accused drug trafficker.

As news of the drug arrest of Jamaican artist Buju Banton rocked the reggae world and burned up U.S. urban blogs, one word described the reaction in Miami and his Caribbean homeland: Shock.

Cocaine case against reggae star laid out

It was Tuesday afternoon when the silver Land Rover with the tag “Jah One” pulled up to La Tropicana de Havana restaurant in Sarasota, according to federal and local law enforcement agents who were staking out the restaurant.

Mark Anthony Myrie, Ian Thomas and an unidentified woman got out of the SUV. They were there, authorities say, to purchase several kilos worth of cocaine.

Myrie is better known as Buju Banton, a controversial reggae star whose most recent visit to Tampa – like many of his performances – was the subject of protests by groups upset with his anti-gay lyrics. Banton, Thomas, 43, and another man, James Mack, 47, were eventually arrested after an investigation that Sarasota police liken to a movie.

Etana’s appeal: singer on promo tour with new singles

A blend of sweet, soulful lyrics, a captivating voice and a natural beauty that shines through her music have made the velvet-voiced Etana a force to be reckoned with in the world of soul reggae.

The native of Kingston, Jamaica, who is on a tour of the Caribbean to promote three hot new singles from her yet to be titled sophomore release – “August Town”, “Free” and “Happy Heart” – hopped over to Guyana on Wednesday last to meet local DJs, performers and various radio and television personalities.

Rototom Sunsplash to relocate for 2010

After 16 years, of being held in Osoppo, Italy, Rototom Sunsplash is being forced to relocate to a new venue in Spain next year.

Rototom is a large European reggae festival which has taken place in Rivellino Park at the foot of the Italian Alps every summer for the last 16 years and was modelled after the traditional Reggae Sunsplash that was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica in the 1980s and early ’90s. The event offers 10 days of reggae, ragga and dancehall from Jamaican and overseas acts.

New Patterns in Dancehall Music: Daggering and “Lock The Block”

It’s no secret, music has always been a copycat business. As soon as one particular style, pattern, chord progression or piece of equipment becomes popular, everyone else hops on the bandwagon to try and emulate the success of the creator. I used to loath this lack of creativity in the music business, but now I have just accepted it as part of the everyday life. I don’t have to remind any of you of the Autotune craze that is still at the forefront of pop culture today.

Top 25 Reggae albums of the decade – JamaicaObserver.com

The top 25 reggae albums for this decade — which ends December — was dominated by Shaggy but other dancehall artistes ranked highly, according to a list compiled by Splash.

Topping the list was Shaggy’s 2000 release Hot Shots which sold over ten million copies and was amongst the most sucessful albums of the decade. Matisyahu was second, but he also made the top 25 three times. Shaggy, Sean Paul, Sizzla, Beenie Man, UB40 and Damian Marley each made the list twice.

Jamaica: Cool in the Caribbean

“No other island in the Caribbean is as beautiful or as productive,” said Grace Elmore from behind the bar at Richmond Hill Inn, a colonial lookout-cum-eyrie owned by her family since the 1960s. It rises high above Jamaica’s Montego Bay. “There is so much to see and do: beaches, mountains, rivers, inland areas, swimming, diving and walking. There is wonderful shopping for jewellery, clothing and crafts. The people are friendly. We export bananas, coffee, bauxite, sweet pepper, cucumber, herbs, spices…”